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Unit 6

Unit 6. Political Parties. Political Parties: A Channel of Influence. Political Parties. Organizations that seek to achieve power by winning public office. American Parties: A Historical Perspective. Federalists

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Unit 6

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  1. Unit 6 Political Parties

  2. Political Parties: A Channel of Influence

  3. Political Parties • Organizations that seek to achieve power by winning public office

  4. American Parties: A Historical Perspective • Federalists • Hamilton believed that the future of the nation lay in the cities and a strong manufacturing sector. • He felt that a strong central government was key to future growth. • Jeffersonian Republicans • Jefferson believed that America’s hope lay in small, agriculturally-based communities. • He distrusted a strong national government.

  5. Whigs • Formed by the opponents of Andrew Jackson • Represented a variety of regional interests • Southern planters • Western farmers • Northern industrialists • United by their resistance to executive domination • Daniel Webster & Henry Clay—two strong leaders • Elected two presidents: • William Henry Harrison • Zachary Taylor • Disappeared in the 1850s due to split over slavery issue

  6. History of Political Parties In US

  7. Democrats vs. Republicans

  8. Democratic Party • Traces its origins to Thomas Jefferson’s Republican Party—which evolved into the Democratic-Republican Party • Adopted the name “Democrats” in 1828 under Andrew Jackson • Originally was the party championing the interests of farmers and advocating limiting the power of the national government and protecting states rights • In the 2oth century, became the more liberal party advocating an activist government to tackle the nation’s problems • Was the dominant political party from 1828-1860 & again from 1932-1968

  9. Republican Party • Traces its origins to the antislavery and nationalist forces that united in the 1850s • Ran its first presidential candidate—John C. Fremont, in 1856 • First elected president – Abraham Lincoln in 1860 • Was the dominant political party from 1860-1932 • Beginning in the 20th century, it became the party advocating less government and a laissez faire policy

  10. FDR & Democratic Dominance The New Deal Democratic Party Roosevelt’s optimism and “can do” attitude in the face of the Great Depression helped cement the New Deal Democratic coalition that won him the presidency

  11. Democratic New Deal Coalition1932-1968 • Working class & union members • White ethnic groups • Catholics & Jews • African Americans • Poor people • Southern Whites

  12. Reagan & Republican Dominance • A new Republican majority • The Reagan Coalition: • Economic & social conservatives • Religious fundamentalists • Anti-Communists

  13. Clinton & the “New Democrats” In response to Republican successes in presidential elections, Clinton attempted to move the Democratic Party in a more moderate direction

  14. Political Party Rallies

  15. Four Former Presidents: Two Democrats & Two Republicans

  16. Presidential Elections: 1952-2004

  17. Presidential Elections: 1980-2004

  18. 2004 Presidential Election (red states: Bush, blue states: Kerry)

  19. 2008 Presidential Election (blue states: Obama, red states: McCain)

  20. Americans & Political Ideology

  21. Political Parties & Ideology

  22. Party and Ideology Among Voters

  23. Republicans & Democrats: Issue Comparison • Democrats • More activist government • Protect social programs • Pro-choice • Govt. regulations necessary to protect workers, consumers, environment, & end business abuses • Active govt. role in civil rights • Support affirmative action • Maintain separation of church & state • Republicans • Less government • Strong national defense • Pro-life • Limit government economic regulations • Anti-union • Less govt. in civil rights • End affirmative action • Traditional family values

  24. Political Party Identification By Traits

  25. POLITICAL PARTY IMAGES • REPUBLICAN IMAGES • Positive Images • Party of Traditional Family Values** • Party of Free Enterprise • Party of Individualism • Laissez Faire Party • Moderate Party • Party of Fiscal Restraint • Party of Strong Defense/Peace • DEMOCRATIC IMAGES • Positive Images • Party of the Common Man** • Party of Equal Rights for All • Progressive Party • Party of the Underprivileged • Party with a Social Conscience • Party of Social Programs • Party of Compassion

  26. POLITICAL PARTY IMAGES • REPUBLICAN IMAGES • Negative Images • Party of the Wealthy/Elites** • Dominated by Big Business • Party of the Radical Right • Anti-Worker • Tied to the Status Quo • Insensitive to the Poor/Elderly • Party of the Depression • DEMOCRATIC IMAGES • Negative Images • Radical-Liberal Party** • Party of Big Government • Tax & Spend Party • Dominated by Unions • Dominated by Minorities • Party of War • Party That Promises Anything/Everything to Get Elected

  27. Which Party Does a Better Job?

  28. Republicans & Democrats: A Comparison Democrats • Liberals • Minorities • Blue Collar Workers & Unions • Jews & Catholics • Inner City Residents • Lower Income • Less Educated • East & West Coasts • Younger Voters Republicans • Conservatives • Anglos • White Collar Workers & Business • Protestants • Suburbs & Rural Residents • Upper Income • More Educated • South, Plains & Mountain States • Older Voters

  29. Political Party Identification: 1952-2006

  30. Trends in Party Identification

  31. Party Identification, 1950s-2000s

  32. Democratic & Republican Party Strength – By State

  33. Third Parties in the U.S. System Libertarian Party Reform Party Green Party

  34. Third Parties in the U.S. System Ideological Parties Protest Parties Single-Issue Parties Splinter Parties

  35. Ideological Parties Ideological Party Third party that exists to promote an ideology rather than to win elections • The socialist parties, which have run candidates in virtually every presidential election in this century are ideological parties

  36. Protest Parties Protest Parties Third party that arises in response to issues of popular concern which have not been addressed by the major parties William Jennings Bryan of the Populist Party (who ran as a Democrat) did not win the presidency in 1896, but he came very close

  37. Single-Issue Parties Single-Issue Party Third party formed around one particular cause • Prohibition Party • Advocated prohibition of alcohol • Green Party • Advocates greater protection for the environment

  38. Splinter Parties Splinter Party Third party formed by a dissatisfied faction of a major party Temporarily leave the party to make a point, then eventually return Strom Thurmond (left) was a States’ Rights Democratic candidate for the presidency in 1948. The party formed in protest to the civil rights plan in the Democratic Party platform

  39. Third Parties • Ideological Third Parties • Socialist Labor - 1888 • Socialist Party – 1909-1960s • Socialist Workers – 1938- • Communist – 1924- • Libertarian – 1972- • Protest Third Parties • Greenback – 1876-1884 • Populists – 1892-1908 • Labor Reform – 1872 • Union Labor - 1888 • Splinter Third Parties • Bull Moose Progressives-1912 • LaFollette Progressives – 1924 • States Rights (Dixiecrats) – 1948 • Henry Wallace Progressives – 1948 • American Independent – 1968-72 • Single-Issue Third Parties • Liberty – 1840-44 • Free Soil – 1848-52 • American (Know Nothing) - 1856 • Prohibitionists - 1869-

  40. REFORMS WHICH BEGAN AS THIRD PARTY ISSUES • Abolishing slavery • Giving women the vote • Monopoly regulations • Minimum wage laws • Direct election of US Senator • Progressive income tax • Right to organize into unions • Safety & health regulations • Kindergartens • Farmer aid programs

  41. Barriers to Minor-Party Success

  42. Why Does the Two-Party System Persist? Cultural Consensus There is little support in the American political culture for avowedly fascist, communist, authoritarian, or other antidemocratic parties

  43. Why Does the Two-Party System Persist? • Winner-Take-All Electoral System • Legal Access to the Ballot

  44. REASONS THIRD PARTIES HAVE DONE POORLY • American 2-party mentality • Lack of money • Lack of media coverage • Radical Image • Wasting vote argument • Popular issues stolen • Rules of game slanted against them: ballot access • Refusal to compromise

  45. Twentieth-Century Third-Party Presidential Votes

  46. Third Party Vote: Presidential Races

  47. National Party Conventions • Convention delegates • Nominate Presidential candidate • Making party rules • Party platforms • Party’s promises and issue stands • Selecting a Vice Presidential Running Mate

  48. Realignment • A long-term shift in social group support for various political parties that creates new coalitions in each party • Election of 1824 (Jackson & the Democrats) • Election of 1860 (Lincoln & the Republicans) • Election of 1932 (Roosevelt & the Democrats) • Election of 1980 ? (Reagan & the Republicans)

  49. Ticket-Splitter • A person who votes for candidates of different parties for different offices in a general election = a ticket-splitter • the opposite of a “straight-ticket” voter • A “straight ticket voter” votes ALL for one party

  50. Party Primaries • CLOSED • Declare party affiliation when register • Voters must vote in that party’s primary • OPEN • Allows voter to vote in either party primary without a party declaration • Allows “crossover voting” (voters of other party cross over & vote in other party primary) • BLANKET/MIXED • Lists all candidates of all parties on one ballot • Voters allowed to vote for only one candidate per position, but may switch parties between offices • “TEXAS TYPE” • Voters declare party affiliation on day of party primary, not before • Voters must then vote in that party’s primary • Is a type of closed primary but operates more like an open primary

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